Mother's Day 2019 - How My Mom Balances Me

Mother’s Day 2019 – How My Mom Balances Me

Four years ago I wrote a Letter to my Mom. I cried as I wrote it, unsure how many more opportunities I’d have to share my love and appreciation for her on Mother’s Day. I still don’t know how many…

CEA Snakes & Sticks

CEA Snakes & Sticks

Three days after my last scan, I went in for my monthly labs. I wasn’t worried because my scan had come back unchanged from previous months and I thought I was in the clear for another 12 week interval. Of…

Live Every Day Like It’s Your _First_ (Update # 15)

Live Every Day Like It’s Your _First_ (Update # 15)

Last year I met with a shaman (side note: it was totes kosher because he was half-Jewish – a Sh’ma’n?). The shaman was awesome, and mostly what you probably imagine a shaman to be: wise, magical, smelling of sage. He…

Reminder: Anyone With Lungs Can Get Lung Cancer

Reminder: Anyone With Lungs Can Get Lung Cancer

Last week, I got a message out of the blue from an acquaintance: “Lisa – I just wanted to send you a note of thanks for sharing your experience and being so open. I went to get a chest X-ray…

If a Milestone Falls in the Forest, Does it Still Make a Sound? (Update #14)

If a Milestone Falls in the Forest, Does it Still Make a Sound? (Update #14)

Five years ago today, I checked into the hospital for an out-patient biopsy that was supposed to be NBD and woke up to the worst news of my life. In general, I don’t mark my “cancerversaries.” I prefer to reserve…

Puzzling Challenges

Puzzling Challenges

We have a friend that’s super into very challenging wood puzzles. I got curious about her hobby a couple years ago and she sent me a few to try. They were some of her more entry-level puzzles, but I still…

What I Bought for Black Friday

What I Bought for Black Friday

It took me almost a year after the diagnosis to buy anything for myself that wasn’t related to my medical care. In late 2014, finally feeling well enough to enjoy strolling around our local town, I vividly remember wandering into…

The Sometimes Optimist

The Sometimes Optimist

I always sigh when fellow LC patients say “it’s been a rough stretch,” like it’s some kind of aberration when our community loses someone special (or a few someone specials in a row). Death is such a constant in the…

The Latest News about the ROS1 Cancer Model Project (Spoiler: it’s Good!)

The Latest News about the ROS1 Cancer Model Project (Spoiler: it’s Good!)

I am excited to share the latest news about the ROS1 Cancer Model Project. First, a refresher on the project: The Problem – ROS1+ cancer occurs in many types of cancers, but it is rare. This makes it difficult for…

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What it Means to Me

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What it Means to Me

In 2016, I listened to a podcast about genetics and cancer featuring oncologist Dr. Theo Ross. During the interview Dr. Ross mentioned that if you don’t smoke, you reduce your risk of getting lung cancer by 95-99%. It was a…